Meigetsu-in（明月院）
Kamakura’s Hydrangea Temple with Zen Roots Meigetsu-in（明月院）is a Zen temple in Kita-Kamakura, best known for its vibrant hydrangea blossoms (ajisai) that draw thousands of visitors every June. The vivid blue flowers fill the temple grounds during the rainy season, earning it the popular nickname Ajisai-dera (Hydrangea Temple). Founded in 1383 during the Muromachi period by […]
Reiun-in (Tofuku-ji)（霊雲院 東福寺）
A Serene Zen Garden Revival at Tōfuku-ji Reiun-in, a tranquil sub-temple of Kyoto’s Tōfuku-ji complex, embodies the quiet beauty and meditative spirit of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. Founded in 1526 during the Muromachi period, it offers a unique journey through time, architecture, and landscape design. The gardens, originally created in 1543, had once fallen into neglect. […]
Kennin-ji （建仁寺）
Kyoto’s Oldest Zen Temple and Its Symbolic Gardens Kennin-ji, founded in 1202, stands as Kyoto’s oldest Zen temple. Located in the Gion district, this temple is not only historically significant but also a key spiritual site in Kyoto. It ranks among the Five Great Zen Temples (Gozan system), which formed the foundation of Zen Buddhism […]
Konchi-in（金地院 南禅寺）
Kyoto’s Zen Garden Framed Like a Painting Konchi-in（金地院）is a sub-temple of the larger Nanzen-ji temple complex in Kyoto. Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimochi founded the temple in the early 15th century. Later, in 1605, the temple was relocated from northern Kyoto to its current location within Nanzen-ji. Not long after, between 1611 and 1632, the garden was […]
Shoden-ji（正伝寺）
A Hidden Zen Retreat in Northern Kyoto Tucked away in the tranquil northern hills of Kyoto, Shōden-ji offers a serene escape from the city’s bustling tourist spots. This Rinzai Zen temple is renowned for its minimalist dry landscape garden and a poignant historical feature—the chitenjō (血天井), or “blood ceiling,” which serves as a solemn tribute […]